Moving to another country is exciting, but it can also be emotionally challenging. Whether you are relocating for work, retirement, study, or family reasons, adjusting to a new culture takes time. Nearly everyone experiences some level of culture shock or transition stress during an international move.
The good news is that culture shock is a normal part of adapting to a new environment. Understanding what to expect—and knowing that your reactions are shared by many others—can make the transition much easier.
Major life changes—even positive ones—always involve stress. There are many stressful events in an average person’s life: moving to a new community, changing careers, and separating from loved ones. When you move overseas, several of these changes often happen simultaneously, creating a significant emotional adjustment.
In addition, you are adapting to an unfamiliar language, customs, climate, food, workplace, and daily routines while temporarily losing many of the support systems you relied upon back home.
It is only natural to experience what is commonly referred to as culture shock or transitional shock.
The Stages of Culture Shock
Although everyone’s experience is different, many people move through four general stages:
- Honeymoon Stage: Everything feels exciting, fascinating, and new.
- Frustration Stage: Differences become tiring or confusing, and homesickness, loneliness, or irritation may appear.
- Adjustment Stage: Daily life becomes easier as routines develop and confidence grows.
- Adaptation Stage: The new culture begins to feel familiar, and you become comfortable living between two cultures.
People may move back and forth between these stages several times, especially after significant life events such as changing jobs, moving house, or welcoming visiting family members.
Tips for Managing Culture Shock
Build a support network
As quickly as possible, make new friends and build a support network. Spending time with experienced expatriates can be especially helpful during your first months. Join community groups, sports clubs, professional associations, volunteer organizations, or social clubs where you can meet people with similar interests.
Learn about your new environment
Be proactive in seeking information and resources. Understanding your new surroundings, customs, transportation, shopping, healthcare, and local etiquette will help you feel more confident and independent.
Learning even a few basic phrases in the local language can also reduce stress and build confidence in everyday interactions.
Create a comfortable home
Your home should become your safe haven—a place where you and your family can relax and recharge after navigating unfamiliar surroundings. Familiar decorations, favourite foods, family traditions, and routines can make your new home feel welcoming.
Maintain healthy routines
Get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and maintain routines that helped you stay healthy before your move. Looking after your physical wellbeing greatly improves your emotional resilience.
Be patient with yourself and your family
Each family member experiences culture shock differently. Some adjust quickly while others may take much longer.
Talk openly about your feelings and encourage children to express theirs as well. Mood swings, frustration, and homesickness are all common during the adjustment period.
Many expatriate families discover that siblings become closer because they spend more time together while rebuilding their social circles.
Keeping a journal or talking regularly with trusted family and friends can also help you process your experiences. While video calls with loved ones are valuable, try to balance staying connected with investing time in your new community.
Watch for signs of culture shock in children
Children often express culture shock differently than adults.
A younger child may become unusually emotional, withdrawn, clingy, or have difficulty sleeping. Older children and teenagers may become frustrated, isolated, or reluctant to participate in school or activities.
Take these changes seriously and talk with them about how they are feeling. Sometimes children simply lack the vocabulary to explain that they miss their friends, grandparents, or familiar routines.
Keep an open mind
Avoid criticizing your host culture or constantly comparing everything to your home country.
Remember that many things that seem unusual now are simply different—not necessarily better or worse. Likewise, your own culture would probably seem just as unfamiliar to someone arriving from Indonesia.
Talking with long-term expatriates and trusted local friends can often provide valuable insight into customs that initially seem confusing.
Develop a “new normal”
It is unrealistic to recreate exactly the same lifestyle you had back home.
Instead, create new routines, traditions, favourite restaurants, weekend activities, and family celebrations that reflect your new life. Many expatriates eventually discover they enjoy aspects of their new lifestyle even more than their previous one.
View challenges as opportunities
Every unfamiliar situation teaches something new.
Whether you’re learning how to shop at a traditional market, navigate local transportation, communicate across cultures, or celebrate local holidays, each experience builds confidence and resilience.
Become part of your community
Integrate at a pace that feels comfortable.
Explore your neighbourhood, attend community events, volunteer, join hobby groups, take classes, or participate in local activities. The more familiar your surroundings become, the more comfortable you are likely to feel.
Plan things to look forward to
Having enjoyable activities planned can make difficult periods much easier.
Think about:
- Short-term activities such as reading a favourite book, visiting a café, or watching a movie.
- Medium-term activities like a weekend trip or exploring another part of Indonesia.
- Long-term plans such as a holiday home, visits from family, or travelling to neighbouring countries.
Having positive experiences on your calendar helps maintain perspective during difficult periods.
Practice stress management
Continue using healthy coping strategies that worked for you before your move, whether that means exercising, listening to music, meditation, yoga, walking, photography, or other hobbies.
Joining a sports club or exercise group has the added benefit of helping you meet new people.
Connect with a faith community
If faith is an important part of your life, finding a local place of worship can provide valuable emotional support, friendship, and a sense of belonging during your transition.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help
Most expatriates remember what it was like to be newcomers and are usually happy to offer advice and encouragement.
If your feelings of anxiety, sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness become overwhelming or continue for several months without improvement, consider speaking with a qualified mental health professional or your employer’s employee assistance programme if one is available. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Remember: Adjustment Takes Time
There is no “correct” timeline for adapting to a new country.
Some people feel settled within a few months, while others need a year or more before Indonesia truly feels like home. Progress is rarely a straight line, and occasional setbacks are completely normal.
Be patient with yourself, stay curious, remain open to new experiences, and celebrate the small milestones along the way. Over time, what once felt unfamiliar often becomes part of your everyday life.
